Abstract: A motor vehicle body includes a side member and with an at least two-shell wheelhouse supported against the latter. An upper wheelhouse shell and a lower wheelhouse shell at least regionally overlap each other and are joined together. Each wheelhouse shell exhibits a passage opening for arranging a strut mount toward the top in the vehicle vertical direction.

Abstract: An assembly for use in a designated listening area includes a body having a frame rail supporting or framing the body laterally adjacent to the designated listening area, and defining a cavity, and a subwoofer assembly having subwoofer speakers each defining a smaller second air volume. The subwoofer assembly is mounted to the frame rail such that the second air volumes are contiguous with and open into the first air volume. A sealing mechanism enclosed the first air volume within the cavity. A method includes providing a subwoofer assembly having subwoofer speakers defining respective second air volumes, mounting the subwoofer assembly to a frame rail laterally adjacent to the designated listening area such that the respective second air volumes are contiguous with and open into the first air volume, and sealing the first air volume with a sealing mechanism.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a park mode in a motor vehicle that includes a powertrain with a powerplant. The method includes identifying whether the vehicle is stopped. The method also includes identifying whether the powerplant is operating or is turned off. The method additionally includes identifying whether an operator of the vehicle is present inside or has vacated the vehicle. The method also includes commanding automatic selection of the park mode if the powerplant is turned off. Furthermore, the method includes commanding automatic selection of the park mode if the operator has vacated the vehicle, whether the powerplant is turned on and operating, or is turned off. The powertrain may include an automatic transmission operatively connected to the powerplant, and the park mode can be affected inside the transmission. A system for controlling such a powertrain via a controller programmed to execute the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A motor vehicle ventilation apparatus is provided including a distributor housing having at least two air ducts leading from the distributor housing. Through these two outgoing air ducts, an air mass flow that is fed to the housing or produced inside the housing is able to be distributed to at least two air outlets arranged at a distance from one another in an interior space of a motor vehicle. The air ducts leading from the distributor housing are each in flow communication with at least one of the air outlets. In addition, at least one servo unit is movable by a drive unit arranged adjacent to at least one of the air ducts in the distributor housing.

Abstract: A driving device for driving a vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a feed line for feeding combustion air to the internal combustion engine, a discharge line for discharging exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, a charge air cooler that is arranged in the feed line for cooling the combustion air, and a recirculation line branching off the discharge line for recirculating the exhaust gas from the discharge line into the feed line. The recirculation line includes a bypass line that the exhaust gas can be fed to the internal combustion engine through the charge air cooler and/or bypassing the charge air cooler.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating data between a network and devices of a vehicle are provided. A method includes: determining, by a processor, a value associated with a round trip time based on vehicle information; adjusting, by the processor, a size of a window used in communication with the network based on the value; and communicating data at least one of to and from the network based on the size of the window.

Abstract: A wiper system wiper system for wiping a window is provided. The wiper system has an arm head and an arm retainer connected to the arm head via a pivot. The wiper system includes a latch for controlling pivoting of the arm retainer with respect to the arm head. The latch is configured to restrict pivoting of the arm retainer with respect to the arm head to an operating range close to the window when the latch is in a latched state. The latch is further configured to allow pivoting of the arm retainer with respect to the arm head from the operating range to a servicing position away from the window when the latch is in an unlatched state.

Abstract: A drive unit for a motor vehicle includes an internal combustion engine having a feeder line for feeding combustion air to the internal combustion engine and a compressor device that cooperates with the feeder line and by means of which the combustion air is compressed for the internal combustion engine. A bypass line opens into the feeder line, and through which the combustion air can be fed to the internal combustion engine without passing through the compressor device. An isolating mechanism associated with the bypass line serves to shut off and/or adjust the quantity of combustion air that flows through the bypass line. A control unit controls the isolating mechanism in such a manner that the isolating mechanism is at least partly closed or is caused to at least partly close when the internal combustion engine is in coasting mode.

Abstract: A method of shaping a component includes providing a plurality of work-piece blanks The method also includes generating a contour in each work-piece blank, such that each contour is bordered by a region of material of the respective work-piece blank. The method also includes stacking the work-piece blanks such that the contour of one work-piece blank is aligned with the contours of the other blanks The method additionally includes simultaneously annealing the region of material bordering the respective contour of each stacked work-piece blank to thereby enhance formability of the region of material. Furthermore, the method includes forming a shape in at least one of the work-piece blanks via stretching the annealed region of material bordering the respective contour to thereby shape at least one component. The component can be a structural reinforcement for a vehicle.

Abstract: An engine assembly may include a voltage source and an oxygen pump assembly. The oxygen pump assembly may include an intake conduit and an oxygen pumping mechanism. The intake conduit may be in fluid communication with an air supply and an intake manifold. The oxygen pumping mechanism may include an oxygen ion conducting cell, a first electrode in electrical communication with the voltage source and a second electrode in electrical communication with the voltage source. The first electrode may be disposed on a first side of the cell and may be exposed to an interior of the intake conduit. The second electrode may be disposed on a second side of the cell and isolated from the interior of the conduit. The oxygen pumping mechanism may remove oxygen from an air flow within the interior of the intake conduit based on a voltage applied across the cell by the voltage source.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes a camshaft having an exhaust cam lobe defining an exhaust lift region and an exhaust base circle region and an EGR cam lobe defining an EGR lift region and an EGR base circle region. The EGR lift region is rotationally offset from the exhaust lift region and the EGR base circle region is rotationally aligned with the exhaust lift region. An exhaust valve lift mechanism is engaged with an exhaust valve, the exhaust cam lobe and the EGR cam lobe and is operable in first and second modes. The exhaust valve remains closed when the EGR lift region engages the exhaust valve lift mechanism during the second mode and the exhaust valve is opened when the EGR lift region engages the exhaust valve lift mechanism during the first mode to provide exhaust gas flow into the combustion chamber during an intake stroke of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system, for selectively actuating a safety mechanism, to protect against electrical shock, using a transformable material. The system includes the transformable material, being: (1) connectable electrically to an electrical component having an unwanted electrical charge and (2) changeable between a deformed shape and an undeformed shape based on electrical input resulting from the electrical charge at the electrical component. The transformable material is also (3) connected mechanically to the safety mechanism so that change in the transformable material causes movement of the safety mechanism. The transformable material is further (4) configured and arranged in the system to, in response to being exposed to the electrical input, change to its undeformed shape and thereby actuate the safety mechanism.

Abstract: A method and system for selective activation of a vehicle near field communication (NFC) module. The vehicle NFC module may be part of a vehicle communication and access system capable of initiating various vehicle functions, such as unlocking one or more doors of the vehicle or starting a motor or engine of the vehicle. With the method and system, a user's mobile device can be used in lieu of a key or a key fob. In situations where the battery power level of the user's mobile device is low, such that Bluetooth or the generation of an active NFC signal is unavailable, the vehicle NFC module is maintained in an active mode. In the active mode, the vehicle NFC module can initiate a connection with a passive mobile NFC target. Otherwise, depending on the battery level of the user's mobile device, the vehicle NFC module is maintained in a standard sleep mode to save power.

Abstract: Both the reaction of hydride-forming compositions with hydrogen to form hydrides, and the decomposition of such hydrides to release hydrogen may be promoted electrochemically. These reactions may be conducted reversibly, and if performed in a suitable cell, the cell will serve as a hydrogen storage and release device.

Abstract: An oil deflector includes a segment array extending radially from a sleeve portion defining a longitudinal axis and configured for mounting on a shaft. The segment array includes a plurality of segments arranged circumferentially relative to the longitudinal axis and defines at least one oil diverting feature configured to create a pressure differential proximate the segment array or across a surface of the segment array during rotation of the oil deflector about the longitudinal axis. The segment array may define an oil diverting feature configured as a radially tapered peripheral surface, an axially inclined annular surface, at least one slot inclined relative to an annular surface of the array, and/or a combination of these configured to divert oil axially and/or radially from the oil deflector during rotation by the shaft in use.

Abstract: A vehicle wiper assembly includes a wiper blade having a length, and an active material disposed along the length of the wiper blade and coupled thereto. The active material includes a shape memory alloy material with a crystallographic phase that is changeable between austenite and martensite, and is elastically deformable and operatively applies a spring force against a portion of the wiper blade when the crystallographic phase is martensite.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is disclosed as having a seat structure with an upper transverse strut for receiving a headrest of the vehicle seat. The headrest has right and left headrest rods for coupling with the upper transverse strut. The transverse strut 6 includes right and left receiving openings for the right and left headrest rods. The headrest may be arranged with the headrest rods in various guide channels to define first and second mounting positions relative to the upper transverse strut. The headrest in the first mounting position is offset transversely to the seat direction with respect to the headrest in the second mounting position.

Abstract: A vehicle lateral control system includes a lane marker module configured to determine a heading and displacement of a vehicle in response to images received from a secondary sensing device, a lane information fusion module configured to generate vehicle and lane information in response to data received from heterogeneous vehicle sensors and a lane controller configured to generate a collision free vehicle path in response to the vehicle and lane information from the lane information fusion module and an object map.

Abstract: A vehicle apparatus includes a seat and a transducer configured to vibrate such that a vibration is felt by a person sitting in the seat. A transducer control signal that is transmitted to the transducer is based on output from a sensor of the apparatus configured to measure data including parameters indicative of at least one of a vehicle system function, a vehicle environment, and driver state, or on output from the vehicle system indicating parameters related to the vehicle system, vehicle environment, or driver state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cable-operated actuating device for a motor vehicle, in particular for a transmission, comprising: an actuating means having a recess for inserting a coupling connector of a cable control, a blocking means which is radially displaceable in the recess and in a radially outer position permits an axial displacing of the coupling connector in the recess and in a radially inner position axially fixes the coupling connector against an inserting direction in a positively connected and/or frictionally connected manner, a housing, which receives a connecting point between the coupling connector and the recess, and an actuating means for radially displacing the blocking means, which can be actuated outside the housing.